Connecting for Kids is committed to providing education and support to families with a concern about their child. Families who have a child with a disability may need help advocating for their child or with teaching their child self-advocacy skills. While Connecting for Kids does not conduct advocacy work, our mission includes educating families on resources they can use to learn more. This list is meant to offer a "jumping off" point for families. It includes organizations that are active in our community, resources to help families understand and talk about disability, as well as books for children. Just Getting Started?Families who are just starting to learn about disabilities and inclusion should listen to the disability series podcast, "What You Do and Say Matter" to learn about preferred language and ways to improve inclusion. We also encourage residents of the Connecting for Kids service area to contact us for personalized support. | You're Not AloneIn addition to the resources on this page, CFK offers opportunities to learn and connect with other families. To Connect:
To Learn More:
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Local Organizations Where Families Can Learn MoreThe following organizations help improve disability rights. |
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO)
Disability Rights Ohio provides legal advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. | Easterseals - Northern Ohio Chapter
Easterseals provides exceptional services, education, outreach and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities. | National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI’s mission is to improve the quality of life and ensure dignity and respect for persons with serious mental illness and offer support to their families and close friends. View in Provider Directory: | The Arc of Ohio and The Arc of Greater Cleveland
Dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. The Arc of Ohio The Arc of Greater Cleveland |
In addition to these Ohio organizations, there are a number of national organization supporting disability rights.
Voices of Disabled Adults
Listening to the perspectives of people with disabilities can help you and your child learn more about the disability community and what it means to be a person with a disability in America today. This list is not all-inclusive, but offers some of the leaders in this field. |
Lawrence Carter-LongDirector of Communications at Disability rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), creator of the #SayTheWord campaign Bio at DREDF
| Rebecca Cokley
Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress (CAP) Articles at CAP
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Books with Diverse Characters (for children)
Families can introduce young children to diverse characters with these book suggestions: |
All Are Welcomeby Alexandra Penfold
| All The Way to The Top
By Annette Bay Pimentel
| Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability
by Pat Thomas
| Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You
by Sonya Sotomayor
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Websites, Videos and Articles
The internet offers a rich collection of websites, videos, articles, podcasts and more that offer support to people with disabilities and highlight disabled voices. |
Disability Visibility ProjectOnline collection of stories collected by disability advocate, Alice Wong.  | ADA.gov
Information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
| #NotSpecialNeeds (video)Awareness campaign on the importance of supporting people with disabilities.
| It's Time to Stop Even Casually Misusing Disability Words
by Andrew Pulrang
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| Call, text or email: Phone: 1-440-570-5908 | Post Office Box: 30628 Detroit Rd. #252 |
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